Finding a trustworthy sunblock these days is a topic I often overhear people discussing at the beach. None of us really know what kind of damage we are doing to our skin by applying sunscreen and staying home to avoid the sun’s harmful rays is just not an option in Hawaii. So what are we to do?
According to an analysis by the Environmental Working Group, only 14% of sunblocks out there contain the essential ingredients that provide both UVA and UVB protection. 12% of the 30+ SPF sunscreens available only protect from UVB radiation, which causes sunburn, but they lack ingredients known to protect from UVA radiation, which is linked to skin damage and aging, immune system problems and potentially skin cancer.
Environmentally speaking, National Geographic featured an article earlier this year based on a study that links 4 common ingredients found in sunblock to coral bleaching. According to the study, these 4 chemicals (octinoxate, oxybenzone, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor and butylparaben) can “awaken dormant viruses in the symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae that live inside reef-building coral species. The chemicals cause the viruses to replicate until their algae hosts explode, spilling viruses into the surrounding seawater, where they can infect neighboring coral communities. Zooxanthellae provide coral with food energy through photosynthesis and contribute to the organisms’ vibrant color. Without them, the coral “bleaches”—turns white—and dies.”
So now we must find a sunblock that is safe for us and safe for the environment. Fortunately, these safe alternatives do exist, but you have to do your research. Most articles out there on this subject claim that using sunblocks that contain the mineral-based active ingredients, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, will not do harm to the coral reefs because they are naturally found in the ocean. They both also offer protection against UVA and UVB rays.
With that said, we all know that we should avoid the sun between 11am and 3pm, but it’s not always that easy to get up and leave the beach when the kids are having fun. In these instances be prepared to reapply an eco-friendly sun block often and take plenty of shade breaks. Also get in the habit of packing thin, long sleeve shirts, hats, rash guards and umbrellas as an alternative.
Here are the top 4 safe and effective sunblocks as rated by the Environmental Work Group, all containing the active ingredients zinc oxide or titanium dioxide:
California Baby Sunblock Stick No Fragrance, SPF 30+
Badger Sunscreen, SPF 30
Keys Solar RX Therapeutic Sunblock SPF 30
Trukid Sunny Days Face Stick Mineral Sunscreen UVA/UVB Broad Spectrum, SPF 30+